From Our Files: Moments from Hawai‘i’s Past–September Edition

A look back at Honolulu from September 1937 to 1997. Stories taken from the archives of Paradise of the Pacific and HONOLULU Magazine.

By Ashley Mizuo

Published: 2017.09.14 11:37 AM

OUR HISTORY

In 1888, King Kalākaua issued a royal charter, commissioning a magazine. Then titled Paradise of the Pacific, this publication became HONOLULU Magazine, making it the oldest magazine west of the Mississippi.

1937

“The millions of papaya seeds thrown aside here in Hawai‘i should be dipped in chocolate and offered to those who do not live in Hawai‘i and suffer from the need of digestive aid.”

1967

As the restoration of ‘Iolani Palace begins, government officials who use the palace as a work space vacate the premises and move to the capitol building. The only royal palace in the U.S. looks very different now compared to the days of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. “As government officials stride purposefully out of the palace, hopefully restorationists, architects and workmen will troop in,” says HONOLULU, “ready for the work of recreating the royal palace of the Merry Monarch, King Kalākaua and the gay days of Honolulu in the 1880s.”

1982

United’s Mainliner 300 opens a new dining feature available right before landing, in addition to a dining table zipped into the seat that is easily assembled in-flight. HONOLULU’s travel supplement, “Hawaiiana,” says, “The ‘snack bar’—a new innovation in international flights—would be the envy of the most exclusive restaurant.”

1982

Perms are becoming the fastest-rising trend among women due to improved technology and scientific research. HONOLULU says, “your hair is your most important fashion accessory.”

1987

While The Honolulu Advertiser’s circulation is up, the Star-Bulletin scrambles to stay Honolulu’s circulation leader. Between Mainland business politics and unexpected staff turnover, the future of both newspapers is unknown. HONOLULU says, “The ripple effects can be felt by anyone in Honolulu with 35 cents for a newspaper.”

1997

CBS cancels the Hawai‘i Five-0 reboot, but HONOLULU has photos of what could have been. “Zoulou and Fong reprise their roles at Dets. Kono and Chin Ho Kelly, respectively,” says HONOLULU.

2002

As managing editor A. Kam Napier cleans his house, he finds outdated floppy discs, LaserDiscs, cassette tapes and VHS tapes. “All of these disparate formats have been replaced by the same silvery, 0.6-ounce, 4.75-inch diameter plastic disc, able to hold Radiohead music, Word for Windows backups or Shrek,” he says. “I can’t wait to start burning my own CDs like the rest of the cool, 21st-century kids.”

1922

1937

1957

Learn more about the evolution of covers in HONOLULU Magazine and Paradise of the Pacific: 125 Years of Covers, available at shop.honolulumagazine.com.